So I'm thinking about building a 4x4.

[ToyTruck]

Over the years, I've acquired a virtual junkyard of parts and pieces. I've decided that I'm going to build myself a 4x4 out of them and I thought I would ask around a bit and see what path others think I should follow.


First, a list of available equipment.

1 1973 Dodge 1-ton chassis
1 1985 (?) Ranger chassis with cab and hood, no bed.
1 Ford 302 - ran (poorly) when pulled
1 Dodge 318 - runs pretty good
1 C4 Auto - don't remember its condition, but it looks fairly clean.
1 A727 Auto with Gear Vendors tail
1 Ford transfer case - indeterminate model, just remember that it came out of some Ford or other...F-150 I think.
2 Ford 9" axles
2 Mopar axles...model 30
2 Rockwell 2.5 Ton axles - one has pinion brakes
1 Rockwell 2.5 Ton transfer case
1 Dana 70
1 right MANLY assortment of springs, both coil and leaf.

I think the obvious thing is to use the Rockwell Axles and transfer case. So then the questions are:

A) What chassis? Full size dodge or Ranger
B) What Engine/Tranny?
C) Should I rebuild/reuse the Ford transfer case as a doubler?

Whatcha think?

 

[BlackBII]

Ranger+302+c4+doubler+rockwells+44" Boggers=OneBadAssMoFo!

I'd stick with the ranger, less weight, smaller on the trails is sometimes nice...

 

[krugford]

I'd go with the Ranger. No bed just makes it easier to cage the rear! There's a slight difference between the rockwells and the 9 inchers. How big do you want to go? Have Rockwells, will travel.

 

[metalmacguyver]

a friend and i were just thinking about rocks under a ranger frame.

my first thought would be ranger cab on the beefier 1 ton frame with rocks underneath and coils. then build that 302 for some decent power. i really dont know enough to build this. just throwing that idea out there.

 

[ToyTruck]

The dodge chassis is just that...a chassis. It used to be a 24' Class C motor home. I've thought of grafting the Ranger body onto the heftier frame and then bobbing that frame....a LOT. Problem here is that I don't think I trust my fabrication skills with my life. I'd basically be betting my life and safety on my ability to fabricate body mounts and such that will hold up to the abuse of rocks, trees, mud and everything else and still be crashworthy should something BAD happen.

The other option would be to use the lighter Ranger frame, but I think the axles alone probably out mass that. Thus the question.

As for the motor..how much power and torque can a 302 make and still be rock-solid reliable? I know that the 318 can get right with the program and I assume the 302 can also. Just don't know enough about it. How much power is "decent power" for a 302? For that matter, if I max out a 302 will the C4 survive behind it? Would it be worth while to come up with some sort of adapter plate to mate up the heavier(?) A727? I figure the rig will have to have some sort of trans cooler either way. It'll also get remote oil cooling and filtration.

Axles...I may also be able to acquire...get this... a complete set of Clark Planetaries. 2:1 reduction at the wheels! I'm thinking I'll also have to convert the one axle over to pinion brakes so that I'll have a matched set.

Transfer case: Any ideas what it could be? I believe its from a mid- to late-80's F-150. I'll have to go clean it up to see if I can find casting numbers or something.

Tires: I have neither wheels nor tires for this application, so my thought is to go hit up some of the military wrecking yards here and maybe see about scoring a set of wheels with Michelin XMLs mounted up. I will probably look for something in about the 44x12.5 range.

It will have to be road legal, as I don't have anything hefty enough to tow it to the trail. Won't be a daily driver, though (obviously). I figure if I build it stoutly enough, it won't break...because I HATE doing repairs. I'd rather mod things than fix them.

 

[metalmacguyver]

so basically you have the 1ton frame but not the confidence in your fab skills to use it.

if you arent confident enough to weld body mounts and shorten up the frame, then i dont really see how you could have the confidence to fab everything else that needs to be fabbed to make this project happen.

either learn how to weld really good or dont do it.

 

[krugford]

Doing anything other than stock axles is going to take more confidence in your fab skills than worrying about body mounts, especially for the Rockwells.

 

[ToyTruck]

I didn't say it was a rational fear. I've helped put Rockwells into rigs for other people...just never done a body swap like this.

I went out and looked at it some more yesterday. I'd have to measure it out, but I think the Ranger body will sit on that larger frame just fine, but the tailshaft of the tranny will be either right at the back wall of the cab or just slightly ahead of it. That puts the transfer case entirely behind the cab. Ought to be fun building a linkage for that. For that matter, I haven't worked out exactly how I'm going to go about setting up a shift linkage for an A727 either. Oh well. One thing at a time.

It also occured that such a beast would need a name.

 

[metalmacguyver]

It also occured that such a beast would need a name.

i think you just gave it one.